Headlight



April 3, 1929. r F. E. PARKLER 1,710,187

' HEADLIGHT Filed Jan. 1926 2 SheetsSheet 1 14 ,Ez'i; Edward arkler %W WG g Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES FITZ EDWARD PARKLER, ,OF CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLI I IO IS.

HEADLIGHT.

Application filed January 2, 1926. Serial No. 78,967.

This invention relates to a headlight. It more particularly relates to a headlight adapted to be used upon automobiles or other vehicles and in which means are provided for cln'ingmg the dlrectlon of the li ght rays.

An object of the invention is to provide a headlight wherein the vertical directionin whichthe light rays are cast may be readily altered. c I I A further object of the invention is to provide means for modifying'the direction of the light rays both by introducing supplementary reflecting surfaces in the form of shutters and by modifying the angle of the main reflector of the lamp. Further to provide for the successive operation ofthe auxiliary or shutter reflectors and that of the main reflector so that the latter will operate to supplement the effect of the former only when essential.

A further object is to provide an improved arrangen'ient of the auxiliary or shutter reflectors so that a minimum number of such reflectors may be used and whereby said reflectors when not in usewill be compactly arranged in such manner as to permit ready access to the interior of the lamp for adjusting or replacing the light bulb'and for cleaning the main reflector. I

Another object is to provide a headlight which is efflcient in operation and is readily and inexpensively manufactured.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear. The invention contemplates in its preferred embodiment, a headlight hav ing means arranged therein for deflecting vertically the light rays. The said means may be operated by electro-magnetic means or manually as desired.

Two sheets of drawings accompany this specification as part thereof.

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section view 'show ingthe shutters and reflector in deflected position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section view showing the shutters and reflector in normal or elevated position. i

Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing the shutters deflected.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation partly in section showing the shutters elevated.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a shutter.

In accordance with this invention the headlight casing comprises a housing 4 having edge flanges 55 and an interior housing 6 having edge flanges 7-7. A front frame member 10 has a flange 9 and a rear frame member 48 carries rearwardly projecting brackets 49 between which is pivoted a parabolic reflector 1. A rear casing member (3 is provided with flanges 17. Two U-shapct members 13 surround and'embrace the flanges of the casing members front and back and these U-shaped members 13 are secured together by suitable U-shaped locking clips 14.

The inner housing 6 is provided at the front and back on either side with narrow pivot slots 36, said slots extending inwardly a slight distance. These slots alternate front and back successively to provide alternate shutter pivotsat the front and the back of housing 6. W'ithin the inner housing and extending the entire length thereof, are shutters 37 arranged in pairs, the shutters of each pair when in normal position being closer together than are the pairs of shutters. The b'otton'i sides of these shutters are highly polished, while the top sides are dull. A small pivot ear 38 extends from each side of the shutters througlrthe spaced slots Bil-and the shutters are alternately pivoted in front and back. The bottom shutters and the alternate shutters above it are joined together by a" connecting rod 39having a hook 40 at the top end thereof. The hook passes through a spaced opening in the top shutter, while the three remaining associated shutters are connected to the rod 39 by means of specially designed slots 4-3. The top shutter and the alternate lower shutters are similarly connected by the rod 42. It will thus be seen llllll of the shutters in each pair, one is pivoted at the front of housing (3 and has its movable side at the rear, while the otheris pivoted at the back of housing 6 and has its movable side at the frontof the housing. The shutters h aving their movable sides at the front are all operatively connected by rod 39, while the other alternate shutters are all operatively connected by rod 4-2. The slots 43 are formed in the reverse manner from the slots 41. The reasons for so forming the slots d3 will hereinafter appear. One side of each slot is provided with a clearance space, thus allowing motion, while preventing rattle. The lower ends of the rods 39, 42 are connected together by the rocker arm 44 which is pivotally connected to the bracket 45. The bracket 45 is secured to the inner housing 6. A magnet 46 is also secured to the inner housing While the core thereof is attached to a downwardly projecting portionof the rocker arm 4A. A coil spring 47 is securedatone end to themagnetcore and at its other end to a post connected with the inner housing.

To provide for thesupplement-ary tilting of themain reflector the rocker arm ift is provided with an extension 50 which is piv otally connected to an arm 51. The arm 51 is provided at its inner end with a slot 52 which engages over a pin 53 carried by bracket; 54- secured to the lower side of the justments of the auxiliary reflector shutters fect ofthe shutters.

37 will not affect the main reflector 1, but

tilt the main reflector to supplement the efposition of the reflector is indicatedin Figure2. e

The operation of the headlight of. the. form just described, is as follows: I

The bright lights being turned on and the shutters being in the straight line position, the raysof light emitted by the headlight will project straight ahead. This" position may be maintained until another vehicle ap proaches, whereupon the driver turns on the magnet switch and the magnet coils are energized. 1 The core is thus drawn within the coils and the rocker arm 44 is thereby swung about its axis. The movement of the rocker arm in turn causes the rods. 39 .and 42 to be moved in opposite direction, Four of the shutters will thereby be swung downwardly while the remaining alternate shutters will be swung upwardly; Towards the end of the movement of the shutters the reflectorl will be tilted slightly downward to assure complete deflection of the rays as the two cars approach. When in this position, the light rays willstrike the bottom side of all of the shutters and be deflected downwardly upon the ground. After the two vehicles have passed, the magnet switch is turned off by the operator, whereupon the coil spring47 will return the shutters to the normal position as above described.

WVhile the invention has been described as employing a magnet to operate the rocker arms, it should be understood that a manually operatedfrod extending to the dash The straight ahead could also be used. Also it should be understood that the shutters could be made flat instead of oval, depending upon the character of light desired.

The following claims are appended'herewith, it being distinctly understood that the invention is susceptible of as many modifications and variations as fall within the scope ofthe said claims.

WVhat-I claim is V 1. Ina headlight means for deflecting the light rays comprising a plurality of shutters arranged in pairs, the shutters of each pair spacedmore closely together than are the pairs to each other.

2. The structure'specified in claim 1 with one shutter of each pair pivoted on its front edge and the other pivoted on its rear edge, means connectingthe front edges of those shutters pivoted at their rear edges, means connecting the rear edges of those alternate shutters pivot-ed at their front edges and means concurrently operatingsaid connecting means in opposite directions whereby alternate shutters are tilted on their back edge pivots downwardly'and the other alternate shutters are tilted on their front edge pivots upwardly.

3.'I'n a headlight. a main reflector and'an auxiliary reflector and operative means connecting the main reflector and the auxiliary reflector including a lost motion device whereby the tilting of the auxiliary reflector will be followed successively by the tilting of the main reflector.

4. In aheadlight having a main reflector and plurality of auxiliary reflector shutters, means for tilting the auxiliary reflector shutters to deflect the light downwardly and means connecting the shutter operating means with the main reflector including a lost motion device whereby the tilting of the shutters beyond a predetermined amount will operate to tilt the main reflector.

5. In a headlight a plurality of adjustable reflectors, means for adjusting one of the reflectors and means connecting said adjusting means with the other reflector including a lost motion device whereby the adjustment of one reflector beyond a predetermined amount will operate to adjust the other reflector.

- In testimony whereof I-aflix my signature.

FITZ EDWARD PARKLEB. 

